Vilnius selected as one of 34 World Heritage sites in the EU featured in ‘World Heritage Journeys’ sustainable travel web platform

Coinciding with the European Heritage Days celebrations, UNESCO will launch the first-ever web platform dedicated to World Heritage and sustainable travel. Supported by the European Union, the platform features 34 selected World Heritage sites spread across 19 European Union countries, and has been developed in collaboration with National Geographic.

Vilnius has been working in collaboration with UNESCO and National Geographic for over 18 months to develop inspiring and educational content to be featured on the platform. The World Heritage Journeys launch will take place when UNESCO Paris Headquarters opens its doors to the public on 15-16 September for the European Heritage Days event. The initiative is co-funded by the European Union and promotes sustainable travel to some of the most remarkable World Heritage sites in Europe. It encourages people to ‘travel differently, travel deeper’, which means travelling beyond the major tourist hubs, staying longer and experiencing more of what the local region has to offer.

“Our goal is to change how people travel. Staying longer in destinations, experiencing the local culture and its environment, and gaining a deeper knowledge and appreciation of World Heritage values,” said Mechtild Rössler, Director of the World Heritage Centre at UNESCO.

World Heritage Journeys invites travelers to travel along four cultural heritage itineraries—Royal Europe, Ancient Europe, Romantic Europe and Underground Europe—which intertwine to tell fascinating stories of Europe’s heritage and history. The website has practical information and tools to support travelers in planning their European holidays based on local knowledge about the destinations’ cultural heritage.

“In addition to reaching travelers directly, we hope that the travel industry—including tour operators, travel agents, and local and national tourism authorities—will be inspired by the content we have curated, and will develop and promote authentic tourism that aligns with the goals of the project and reflects the outstanding universal value of World Heritage.”

World Heritage Journeys will also play a key role in attracting Chinese visitors to Europe for the 2018 EU/China Tourism Year, an initiative led by the European Commission and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China in collaboration with the European Travel Commission (ETC). The website is available in English, Chinese and French. The platform also contributes to the goals of the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage.

“This project is a great example of how National Geographic ignites the explorer in all of us looking to explore the farthest reaches of the Earth and beyond. It seeks to contribute to the economic health of the communities in and around the World Heritage sites, and guide tourists to unique cultural attractions and experiences, as recommended by local experts,” said Frank Biasi, Director of digital development and travel programs at National Geographic Maps. “With this local knowledge, the website encourages travelers from North America, China and other major tourism markets to travel differently and travel deeper, and use the platform to inspire and plan their European trips.”

Also read:

VILNIUS, 21 September 2018 With only 24 hours to go until the arrival of Pope Francis, Lithuania’s capital city is hoping to re-ignite enthusiasm for its religious heritage by bringing one of its most sacred treasures into the digital age with their exciting new virtual reality project... ❯❯❯

A new name – that of George Walker Bush – has been entered onto the list of Vilnius city citizens of honour. In order to honour the 43th US President, the city Council decided to award to him the name of a Vilnius citizen of honour. This year is 16 years since the first and until now the only... ❯❯❯

Friends, comrades and family members of the politician, democrat Boris Nemcov assassinated in Moscow 3 years ago and Vilnius citizens opened a square named after B. Nemcov by the Embassy of Russia in Latvių street tonight.
Vilnius is the second in the world that has bravely memorialised the... ❯❯❯

Vilnius is an undiscovered European treasure that is good to find. This is the main idea marketed by the new Vilnius international advertising campaign. The campaign is geared to increase the visibility of Vilnius in the targeted incoming tourism markets - in the United Kingdom and... ❯❯❯

Vilnius launches today its advertising campaign on London and Berlin billboards saying: ‘Nobody knows where it is, but when you find it - it’s amazing’. Vilnius - The G-Spot of Europe’. Advertising panels and videos on social networks and on the Google platform target 18-35 year-olds in the... ❯❯❯

As every year, Vilnius is in for the biggest city festival Capital Days at the first autumn weekend. We will soon see its detailed programme, which, as has already transpired, will include the famous British band Everything Everything. Established in 2007 and by now having participated at the... ❯❯❯